Bar traveler



Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES BAR TRAVELER Louis W. Schaafi, Elmhurst, N. Y., assignor of fifty-two percent to Wilhelmina M. Kuhn, New

York, N. Y.

Application October 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,174

15 Claims.

This invention relates to bar travelers.

When bar travelers are in use, the pull of the thread usually bows the travelers upwardly at the center and thus tends to pull them from under the twister or spinner ring flange. This frequently causes the travelers to become disengaged from the spinner ring, requiring stoppage of the spindle, and often of an entire bank of spindles and the consequent loss of time of production, and entailing considerable labor, annoyance and loss of time, while the traveler is being re-threaded and reengaged with the spinner ring and the spindle or bank, restarted.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a bar traveler having means at its ends adapted so to coact with means on spinner rings that the tendency of the traveler to fiy away from the ring, when in use, is eliminated, and time and labor are saved and production is increased correspondingly, the traveler, at the same time, being simple and inexpensive in construction, readily and quickly engageable with and removable from a spinner ring manually, adapted to be threaded easily and quickly, and is eifective and efficient in operation.

It is known that when the ring contacting portions of a traveler are composed of fibre or similar material, the life of the traveler is increased considerably, friction is reduced and many other improvements and advantages result. However, fibre is not as suitable for the thread guide of a bar traveler as metal is, since fibre frays and cuts the thread, and the thread is more apt to cut into fibre than metal.

3 A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient bar traveler having fibre ends for engaging with the spinner or twister ring and provided with metal thread guides; and'a further object of this invention is to provide a bar traveler having thread guide means which permit threading of the travelers without requiring their removal from the spinner ring.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bar traveler having all the features and improvements stated above.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and illustrating certain possible embodiments of this invention, and which, when considered in connection with the description that follows, will point out by way of example the manner of and means whereby the objects of this invention may be attained. drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bar traveler embodying this invention shown in operating position on a spinner ring and in relation to the thread bobbin or spool; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof and is taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the bar traveler shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of a modified construction;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view thereof and is on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of another modification;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view thereof and is taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of still another modification;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view thereof and is taken on the line Ill-i0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of another modification;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view thereof and is taken on the line l 2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of another modification;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of an end portion of the same, the View being indicated by the line 14-44 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of another modification;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of still anothermodification; and

Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged side elevation of a bar traveler of still another modification.

In Figures '7, 9, 11 and 13, the bar travelers are shown as broken off at the ends.

.- Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the bar travelers of the modification shown in Figures 1 to 14 inclusive and 16 and 17, are characterized by consisting of a single integral piece of fibre, which constitutes not only the body or bar portion I, but also the two hook shaped ends 2 which engage and contact the spinner ring. Instead of the travelers being composed of fibre, they may be composed of other non-metallic, densely compacted, non-heating, wear resisting material and which may be synthetic and molded and have sufficient hardness and wear resisting qualities for the purpose.

taken In the In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bar I, of the traveler is enclosed in a metal sheath or sleeve 3 which may comprise a piece of metal bent thereabout, so that the thread will run against a metal surface.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the threaded guide comprises a metallic member having a central portion 4 bent around the center portion of the bar I of the traveler and whereby the thread guide member is secured in place thereon, and having metallic fingers 5 extending in opposite directions toward opposite ends of the traveler, spaced a slight distance above the bar of the traveler to allow a thread to be drawn between either finger and the bar of the traveler. Preferably, the extremities 6 of the fingers 5 are bent down to maintain the fingers spaced from the bar I and also to prevent the thread from being disengaged from the fingers 5 inadvertently or at inopportune times, while permitting the thread to be-engaged under either finger 5 without requiring the removal of the traveler from its normal engagement with the spinner ring. I I

In themodification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the thread guide member is similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, comprising a metallic sheath or sleeve 1 enclosing the bar I of the traveler, and differs from the thread guide member shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in that it has two arms or fingers 8 extending from opposite ends to approximately the center of the traveler. The extremities 9 of the fingers 8 are bent down to keep the fingers 8 spaced from the sheath I and to prevent the thread from pulling out from under the ends of the fingers, while permitting the thread to be engaged beneath either finger without requiring the traveler to be removed from normal position on the spinner ring.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the thread guide is formed by two metal fingers I0 having inturned ends II loosely meeting above the center of, the traveler bar I. The opposite end of each finger I0 is bent over, as at I2, and this end is engaged and held fast in a clamping band or collar I3 which surrounds and is .clamped to the bar I adjacent each end and finger member whereby the fingers III are held firmly in position over and parallel with the bar I.

The modification shown in Figs. 11 and I2 is similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and '6 except that instead of making the fingers and. attachment portion of the thread guide member in one piece, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the oppositely directed fingers I4 are opposite ends of a single piece of metal which is clamped to the bar I of the traveler by means of a separate sheet metal sheath orsleeve I5 which encloses and is clamped about both the finger member and the bar I, this clamping member I5 being preferably indented on both sides intermediate the member I4 and the bar I, as at I6, so as to hold the I4 spaced the desired distance above the bar I.

In the modification shown in Figs. -1-3 and '14, the thread guide consists of ametal wire H extending from one end to the other of the traveler a suitable distance below and parallel with the bar I, and may be held in place by having its ends pierce the end portions of the traveler and bent into clamping engagement therewith, as at I8.

In the modification shown in Fig. 15, the traveler consists of a single piece of wire having a bar portion I9 and hook shaped ends 20 ending in inwardly extending extremities 2|, each in the nature of a barb. This traveler is particularly adapted for use with a spinner ring such as is illustrated and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 44,173 filed October 9, 1935. This ring 22 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and, as shown, is characterized by a lip 23 which is di rected downwardly and inwardly, and against the under surface of which the bar traveler rides.

By providing the inwardly and upwardly di-' rected extremities or barbs 2I on the traveler IS, the barbs will seat behind the spinner ring lip 23 and will tend to prevent the traveler from flying out of engagement with the spinner ring at inopportune times.

In' the modification shown in Fig. 16, the traveler is composed of a single fibre stamping including the bar 24, hook ends 25, and having on one end a projection 26 in which an end of a wire thread guide 21 is hooked, and having at the other end a projection 28 over which a loop 29 on the other end of the wire thread guide may be hooked so as to hold the thread guide wire inposition on the traveler during use, but permitting disengagement of this end of the wire 21 from the hook and the wire to be lifted to permit threading when necessary or desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 17, the center of a thread guide wire 30 is engaged with and held by an ear 3I formed on the top of bar 32 of the fibre traveler, the wire extending therefrom in opposite directions parallel with and spaced slightly above the bar 32 of the traveler. The wire may be engaged in suitable holes provided therefor in the car.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 7, 11, 16 and 17, the thread guide fingers are positioned so close to the'bar I, of the traveler as to prevent slubs or unduly large or bulky formations on the thread from passing through the slot between the fingers and the bar, thus functioning automatically to stop the thread and to check the-passage of each such slub or formation suddenly as it reaches the traveler. In this way such defects of the thread can be eliminated before the thread has become wound on the bobbin or spool.

From the above it will be readily apparent that the travelers are of extremely sturdy and durable character and have thread guiding means which offer metal contact surfaces to the thread. Each of these may be provided with a barb or prong at each extremity to engage behind a track lip of a spinner ringto better retain the travelers in operative association with the spinner ring, and to lessen the likelihood of the traveler becoming disengaged from the ring when in use. Also these travelers may have fibre ends for engagement with the spinner ring track whereby a contact is provided which has a minimum of friction and wear andrequires no lubrication. The composition of the traveler of an integral piece of fibre or other suitable non-metallic material, comprising the bar and both ends of the traveler, and equipped with metallic thread guide means, is an inexpensive article and is extremely sturdy and efiicient. By forming the thread guide member so that the traveler may be threaded without requiring its removal from the spinner ring, considerable time and labor is conserved.

The attainment of these and other objects, improvements and advantages of the invention are apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing.

As many changes can be made in the construction, and as many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the ac companying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The ring shown in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description is, suitable for throwing, spinning and twisting, and it is understood that the invention relates to throwing and twisting as well as to spinning.

What I claim is:

1. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a substantially rigid bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring and serving to hold said foot portions in position during operation, and a flexible metallic thread guide member secured to said traveler piece.

2. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a metal thread guide member enclosing the under edge of said bar portion and secured thereto.

3. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide member comprising a metal sheath about said bar portion.

4. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a substantially rigid bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring and serving to hold said foot portions in position during operation, and a thread guide member secured to said traveler piece, said member having a flexible elongated metal thread engaging portion spaced from and parallel with said bar portion.

5. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a substantially rigid bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring and serving to hold said foot portions in position during operation, and a thread guide member secured to said traveler piece, said member having a flexible elongated metal thread engaging portion spaced from and parallel with said bar portion, one end of said elongated portion being free to permit a thread to be passed sidewise between said free end and the bar portion of the traveler piece.

6. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide member secured to said traveler piece, said member having an elongated metal thread engaging portion spaced from and parallel with said bar portion, one end of said elongated portion being free to permit a thread to be passed sidewise between said free end and the bar portion of the traveler piece, the tip of said free end extending toward said bar portion to maintain said elongated portion spaced from the bar portion.

7. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non -metallic material having a bar :portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide member secured to said traveler piece and having two oppositely directed metal thread engaging fingers spaced above and parallel with said bar portion. I

8. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide member secured'to said traveler piece and having two oppositely directed metal thread engaging fingers spaced above and parallel with said bar portion, each of said fingers having a free end to permit passing of a thread sidewise between the finger and the bar portion of the traveler piece.

9. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide membersecured to said traveler piece and having two oppositely directed metal thread engaging fingers spaced above and parallel with said bar portion, each of said fingers having a free end to permit passing of a thread sidewise between the finger and the bar portion of the traveler piece, and the tip of each free end of each finger being extended toward the said bar portion to maintain said fingers spaced therefrom.

10. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide member approximately the same length as said bar portion and having a central portion secured to said bar portion at its center and having metal thread engaging fingers extending in opposite directions from said central portion and spaced from and parallel with said bar portion of the traveler.

11. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring and a thread guide attachment portion projecting upwardly from the center of said bar portion, and a thread guide comprising an elongated metal member engaged with and secured centrally to said attachment portion of the traveler piece and having finger-like portions extending in opposite directions from the secured central portion and spaced from and parallel with the bar portion of the traveler.

12. A bar traveler of the character described, including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating at each endin a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and a thread guide member comprising a metal thread engaging wire-like member pivotally secured at one end to the traveler piece adjacent one end of said bar portion, and means, including interengageable portions on the other end of the metal thread engaging member and on the traveler piece adjacent the other end of the bar portion, to confine an inserted thread between said thread member and said bar portion and to maintain said metal thread member spaced from and parallel to said bar portion, and said portions being separable for passage of a thread sidewise therebetween into threaded position between said thread member'and said bar portion.

13. A bar traveler of the character described including a unitary traveler piece of non-metallic material having a bar portion terminating ateach end in a foot portion for engagement with a spinner or twister ring, and an elongated metal thread guide member extending beneath and parallel with said bar portion and secured to said traveler piece.

14. A bar traveler of the character described including a unitary traveler piece of hard, wearresisting fibre, comprising a substantially rigid bar portion terminating at each end in a hookshaped portion for engagement with aspinner,

said foot portions and means which are less flexi-1 ble than said thread engaging means in the direction in which the latter are flexed during operation, connecting said foot portions and serving to hold the same in substantially fixed position during flexing of said thread engaging means. it

LOUIS W. SCHAAFF. 

